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By Natasha Clark Assistant Managing Editor EAST LONGMEADOW Joanne Zemanek is raising money for the Rays of Hope Walk for Breast Cancer on Oct. 26 in a way that benefits everyone. For the second year, she will be utilizing her clothing design background by performing sewing services for anyone who is willing to make a reasonable contribution. Zemanek said she is willing to do seam repairs, button replacements, simple valances, curtains, patching, easy Halloween costumes and bridal headpieces. "You supply the materials and I supply the talent," she said. Zemanek has a bachelor's degree in clothing and textiles with a concentration in clothing design and a minor in art. For 11 years she worked in functional clothing design for the United States Army in Natick, Mass. The gig provided her with very unique experiences. "I was working on cold weather clothing to begin with and quality assurance for chemical protective clothing. It wasn't the New York clothing design I had in mind when I went to college," Zemanek recalled. "It was a whole new realm that I hadn't even thought of. I did a lot of field testing in Alaska. You have to find out what your customers are dealing with in order to fully understand their needs. What's it like to try to adjust your ski bindings when it's minus 40 and you can't take your gloves off? I was able to participate in a two week training exercise at Camp Ridley in Minnesota and I found out what it was like sleeping at minus 40. I lived what they lived on a daily basis." Applying her talents to breast cancer research was a fundraising scenario that seemed like the next logical step after dealing with the effects of the disease through relatives and close friends. "Twenty-four years ago my uncle died of breast cancer and at the time I kind of felt helpless," Zemanek said. "So I just kind of let it sit on the back burner. And a year and a half ago, a very, very dear friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer and a week later she had an emergency mastectomy. The first Rays of Hope walk after that she put together a team and I wanted to help raise money. I knew I couldn't give her monetarily what I really wanted, and I came up with the idea of sewing and using my educational background." She said people contacted her and shared what the walk had done for them as breast cancer survivors. "I learned from them how beneficial it was and how helpful it was when they couldn't afford meds," Zemanek said. "Whatever they needed, the Rays of Hope was there. It was such a feel good project." She ended up raising nearly $700. This year she hopes to earn that and more and will be accepting donations through Oct. 26. Any persons interested in making a donation in exchange for sewing services can contact Zemanek at 827-7055 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Those wishing to make a direct donation without services can mail a check made payable to Rays of Hope directly to Baystate Health Foundations -- Rays of Hope, P.O. Box 1541, Springfield, MA 01101. Zemanek is also interested in making alterations for those with prosthetics. "My friend is a swimmer and she was having problems finding suits that she could afford and that would work with her prosthesis. And it got me thinking that maybe there were some alterations that I could help people with based upon different prostheses. It doesn't have to be in a breast cancer realm. Any type of disability. I was in functional clothing for so long ... I'm not saying I have the answer for everything but maybe there are people out there that I could help." | ||||||
